Free State district, South Africa

Places to visit near Maputsoe

Maputsoe is a town in Free State district, South Africa, home to about 32,117 people. Within 50 km by road there are 120 places to visit — 52 hill stations & viewpoints, 34 churches, 10 wildlife, forests & gardens and 1 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Swartkrans (54 km), Bokong Nature Reserve (69 km) and Qiloane (69 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Maputsoe on the map

Maputsoe, South Africa
Maputsoe, Free State district, South Africa. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Maputsoe at a glance

Location
Free State district, South Africa
Population
about 32,117
Coordinates
28.8866° S, 27.8991° E
Places within 50 km
120
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Maputsoe

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Maputsoe: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Maputsoe

Things to see near Maputsoe, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Maputsoe

133 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is Stafford's Hill (4 km); the best-known is 'Muela (13 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • 'Muela · viewpoint · Leribe District · ~13 km
  • Babing · viewpoint · Berea District · ~18 km
  • Fobani Nek · viewpoint · Leribe District · ~23 km
  • Fobane · viewpoint · Leribe District · ~24 km
  • Unfinished · viewpoint · Leribe District · ~29 km
  • Stafford's Hill · viewpoint · Free State · ~4 km

All hill stations & viewpoints in Lesotho →

Churches near Maputsoe

39 churches within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is African Methodist Church (1 km); the best-known is Khanyane L.E.C. SA (25 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Lesotho →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Maputsoe

14 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is Thaba Thabo Mountain Retreat (3 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in South Africa →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Maputsoe

11 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is Meulspruit Dam (8 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in South Africa →

Parks near Maputsoe

10 parks within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is Woodland/scrub (16 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in South Africa →

Caves near Maputsoe

9 caves within 100 km of Maputsoe. The closest is Pitseng Cave (38 km). Best time: year-round.

All caves in Lesotho →

A one-day trip from Maputsoe

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 72 km on the road.

  1. Start in Maputsoe
  2. 8 km Meulspruit Dam · dam, Free State
  3. 22 km Babing · viewpoint, Berea District
  4. 8 km 'Muela · viewpoint, Leribe District
  5. 14 km Major Bell Tour · heritage site, Leribe District
  6. 6 km Sandstone Heritage Trust · museum, Free State
  7. 14 km Back to Maputsoe

Plan a longer trip from Maputsoe — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Maputsoe

No traveller has reported from around Maputsoe yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Maputsoe

    All places near Maputsoe by distance

    Within 15 km of Maputsoe

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Maputsoe by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints52133Stafford's Hill (4 km)
    Churches3439African Methodist Church (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1014Thaba Thabo Mountain Retreat (3 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs111Meulspruit Dam (8 km)
    Parks910Woodland/scrub (16 km)
    Caves59Pitseng Cave (38 km)
    Forts & heritage46Major Bell Tour (18 km)
    Waterfalls04Lepaqoa Waterfall (68 km)
    Museums23Pinedene Small Arms Museum (11 km)
    Other attractions13Phaepheng (3 km)
    Mosques & dargahs22Hlotse Mosque (19 km)

    Maputsoe: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Maputsoe?

    Meulspruit Dam (dam, about 8 km), 'Muela (viewpoint, about 13 km), Sandstone Heritage Trust (museum, about 14 km), Major Bell Tour (heritage site, about 18 km), Babing (viewpoint, about 18 km), Fobani Nek (viewpoint, about 23 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Maputsoe?

    120 places on Spotwander: 52 hill stations & viewpoints, 34 churches, 10 wildlife, forests & gardens, 1 lake, 9 parks.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Maputsoe?

    Stafford's Hill, about 4 km by road; 'Muela (13 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Maputsoe?

    African Methodist Church, about 1 km by road; Mt Carmel A.M.E Church Ficksburg (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Maputsoe?

    Thaba Thabo Mountain Retreat, about 3 km by road; Thaba Imparini (8 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Maputsoe?

    Start in Maputsoe, visit Meulspruit Dam, then Babing, then 'Muela, then Major Bell Tour, then Sandstone Heritage Trust, and drive back — about 72 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Maputsoe?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Maputsoe

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Maputsoe’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Maputsoe on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.